The Exhibitor (1960)

NEWS CAPSVEES Conn. Production Planned HARTFORD, CONN. — Long-projected mo¬ tion picture plans of the Paul DeTuccio in¬ terests, first disclosed some months ago, are firming up. The former production aide at then CBSTV owned and operated WHCT-TV (Channel 18,) Hartford, more recently active in the musical presentation field on a regional basis, has filed a certificate of incorporation with the Connecticut Secretary of State’s office for Eastern Productions, Inc., 2716 Albany Ave., West Hartford. DeTucci, who is listed as president, is readying an initial filming slate of three prop¬ erties, “Violence,” “Vendetta,” and “Dive for the Top,” all described as topical melo¬ dramas. “If everything jells properly,” he told MOTION PICTURE EXHIBTOR, “We hope to start location shooting on Connecticut sites by late spring and we’ll probably be using a number of Connecticut actors. Just what the first film will be, of course, is dependent upon availabilities of several top ‘name’ players with whom we are currently negotiating through New York and Cali¬ fornia contacts.” ^ BROADWAY /V GROSSES "Can-Can" Arrives In Triumph NEW YORK — Business held up well in the Broadway first-runs last week-end. There were a couple of good openings with 20thFox’s “Can-Can” on a hard ticket policy at the Rivoli doing capacity. According to usually reliable sources reaching MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR, the breakdown was as follows: “SEVEN THIEVES” (20th-Fox). Paramount ($39,435)* — The opening week was claimed at a very good $55,000. “HOME FROM THE HILL” (MGM). Radio City Music Hall ($147,610) — Thursday through Sunday tallied $85,000, with the second ses¬ sion sure of $125,000. Stage show. This was a big improvement over the first week, which was blitzed by the snow storm. “ THE WIND CANNOT READ ” (20th -Fox). Roxy, with no stage show, reported $23,000 for the first week. “THE LAST VOYAGE” (MGM). Capitol claimed the fourth and last week would hit $15,000. “BEN-HUR” (MGM). Loew’s State on re¬ served seat policy reported $45,000 for the 17th week. “THE THIRD VOICE” (20th-Fox). Victoria ($22,900). The second week dropped to $12,000. “ON THE BEACH” (UA). Astor reported $19,000 for the 13th week. “OUR MAN IN HAVANA” (Col.). Forum claimed the seventh week at $16,000. SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER” (Col ). Cri¬ terion reported the 12th week as $26,500. “CAN-CAN” (20th-Fox). Rivoli with hard ticket policy claimed capacity of $40,500 for the opening week, and has a large advance. *Figures in parentheses represent 1960 aver¬ ages as compiled by Motion Picture Ex¬ hibitor. Miami Exhib Requests Trust Case Review WASHINGTON — A petition for review was filed with the Supreme Court by the Miami, Fla., neighborhood house, the Tivoli, whose anti-trust case dates back to 1937. Having thus far won no judgments, the plaintiffs ask reversal and relief, and accuse the Federal District and Circuit Courts of resorting to “abitrary and capricious” inilings due to enormous workload arising under the 1948 consent-decree judgments The Tivoli case went through a tortuous course in the Federal District Courts in New York. Although not accusing the courts of out¬ right shirking, the Miami plaintiffs do assert that the judges show “hostility” and “dis¬ cover” obstacles to presentation of evidence, resulting in denial of damages Congress in¬ tended. The case could, if the Supreme Court agrees to review it, result in a re-shaping of lower court attitudes towards such cases and conceivably result in a Congresional in¬ vestigation, though there have thus far been no congressional complaints. Texas Censors Lose Fight FORT WORTH, TEX. — In a decisive vic¬ tory against local forces of censorship, the District Court of the State of Texas ruled that the Board of Censors of Fort Worth had acted arbitrarily and without justification in attempting to place a ban on the Brigitte Bardot film, “And God Created Woman.” Judge Jack M. Langdon ruled that the Kingsley -International film was not obscene and upheld Kingsley’s request for an injunc¬ tion against any restraining action on the part of the board. Kingsley and Empire, plaintiffs, were repre¬ sented by Ephraim London, who specializes in censorship cases, and Grover Hartt, Jr. The successful industry stand challenged the city censors as unconstitutional. The industry was watching for a possible precedent in other areas. FILM FAMILY A ALBUM Gold Bands j Judith Susan Joseph, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Irwin S. Joseph, was married to Thomas Garland Thompson. Joseph is president of Essanjay Films, Inc., Chicago. Sick Call Edward Yandoli, of the exploitation depart¬ ment of 20th Century-Fox, has entered New York Medical Center for major surgery. He , will be away from his post for six weeks. Paul J. Greenhalgh, general manager, MO¬ TION PICTURE EXHIBITOR is recuperating ' from surgery at Lankenau Hospital, Philadel¬ phia. Obituaries Robert Davidson, 75, at one time operator i of the former Columbia, Athens, Ohio, died, i He is survived by a brother, a sister, and two half sisters. i Jacob J. Disch, 86, foiTner Cudahy, Wis., * theatre operator, died at St. Camillus Hos J pital, Milwaukee. He was a former clown and circus route man. He is survived by his daughter, a son, and a sister. ^ Edward Charles Flanigon, 84 one of the ^ earliest Cleveland pioneer exhibitors, whe ; served several terms as president of the I Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitors Association, died last fortnight. In the nickelodeon ‘ days he owned the Bijou on Euclid Avenue ^ and later owned the Terminal, both long ;; since passed from the theatrical scene. Mrs. Audrey Law, who with her husband , operated the Cozy, Argos, Ind., died. j Samuel Neal, 72, a partner in the Alliance f. Theatre Corporation, died in Kokomo, Ind. | Alliance owns five Kokomo theatres. Sur j vivors include his widow and a son. j John Thoma, 61, manager, Valencia, Evans 'r ton. Ill., and former Columbia publicist, i died following illnesses of several years. . How is this for o bit of nostalgia? This is the Coliseum as of 1917, a unit of the Nixon-Nirdlinger Circuit, which was located at Sixth and Market Streets, Philadelphia, and its baseball team staff. That is the late Vic Austin, bottom row, right, who was a projectionist in Philadelphia. After World War I, he took over the Grand Opera House, East Stroudsburg, Pa., now the Grand. Mrs. Austin and son Frank Meyers now operate the Grand. 8 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR March 16, I960